Freedom of Movement, Refugees, Traffickers, and Smugglers

It is up to chance where we were born and what borders we can cross. While some people can move anywhere in the world due to their nationality, others may be restricted by it.

This course will examine the complex web of laws and policies that govern human migration in 21st century. It also explores the tension between national sovereignty and international legal obligations.

You'll be exploring tensions between the right of freedom of movement, and the sovereign rights to control borders.

The Refugee Convention will then be examined. It will help you identify what constitutes a refugee, and provide protections for refugees. This will allow you to evaluate the Convention's strengths and weaknesses in relation to 21st century migration.

Border controls of the destination state are frequently implemented in the state of origin, or on the high seas far away from the borders of destination countries. This prevents travelers from leaving their country and even reaching the destination country's border.

This course will examine how the anti-trafficking treaties and the antismuggling treaties help to strengthen border controls and make migrants more vulnerable to violence and persecution.